Okay, for the most part I agree with you, but this, not so much. I'm sorry, I just can't let this one rest. I've had a lot of friends hurt because their parents monitored their computer usage, and "didn't approve" of things facebooks like, popular youtube videos, or public forums just like this one.

((EXTREME AND POSSIBLY TRIGGERING EXAMPLE)) A friend of mine (20 years old) has been DISOWNED because his mother found his porn files, which hadn't been properly cleared from the computer. He isn't aloud to be alone with his brother because he liked female twinsets stories, and is bisexual. I admit this is extreme, but seriously the guys 20 and it was erotica, and gay porn. ((END EXAMPLE))

Another friend, 15 now, has been hiding a fb account forever from her parents. She's STILL not aloud facebook, and her computer access is heavily monitored. I can see the affect it has on her; she's more willing to go behind her parents back now, where before she wasn't. (we've been friends since she was born, despite the huge age difference)

I know these are extreme cases, but I think kids deserve privacy. Not everything they look at is going to be liked by their parents. My mom hates that I look up D&D tactics, and even that I'm on this forum. She hates the games that I play, like Minecraft. Half my writing is "off limits" because my parents don't need to read the romances I write. But she stays out of it, and has since I was a kid. I think that's why I'm so honest with my parents is that they let me have freedoms like that. I wasn't aloud a lock on my bedroom, but I was aloud a computer, and to read, or play what I wanted. Sure they were worried about my safety, but they trusted me enough and taught me enough to know that if I was uncomfortable I could tell them, and they weren't going to limit my freedoms.

Unless I'd watched over 5 hours of TV a day after school... then I was just being unreasonable.

There's a balance to it. Kids need to get out and have fun and have a social life, but you also have to allow them freedom to learn who they are. I did so much exploring when I was a kid, and it made me a better person. It's how I discovered my sexuality, and my personal morals. It's how I drew lines for myself, instead of listening to the lines others wanted. It's actually where I learned to say no to peer pressure. I knew I was safe to do as I pleased at home, even if I was being monitored by friends at school.

Lastly, I really hope this girl isn't forbidden to play WoW. I know that's going to be met with a lot of shock, but it's not the game that led her to this situation, it was the people involved (including her). I can totally understand if she doesn't want to play, but I hope that is her decision, and not someone else's. I also hope that if she does want to continue to play WoW, she is more responsible. But I think she'll learn her lesson and I hope she still has the always-precious freedom that I had when I was home alone in my room.

>> Sorry if that was harsh, it's just that really set me off. Nothing personal OpenEyes. I also know all my eg's were of older people, but it's more the point of how far this can go, and how bad it can be.<<